Jack Gardner fronted court with his arm in a sling on several charges related to an alleged crime spree in March of 2024
A Merbein man allegedly stole multiple vehicles, attempted to ram a police car with one, and later crashed into a tree, during an alleged attempt to avoid the long arm of the law.
Mildura
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A Merbein man who broke his arm in an alleged attempt to evade police has had his bail application denied.
Jack Gardner, 29, had evaded police on alleged firearms and car theft charges for up to four weeks before he was found by police on April 27.
The court heard Mr Gardner allegedly jumped through several gardens in San Mateo Ave in a failed attempt to avoid capture.
It was during this final attempt to evade police Mr Gardner sustained his broken arm.
Police claim Mr Gardner stole a Ford Courier in early March, before abandoning it in the car park of the Gateway Hotel in Mildura.
Just days later, Mr Gardner allegedly stole another car along with a co-accused. It was claimed in court by police the accused used the vehicle in two burglaries in Dareton, NSW.
Police testified at Mr Gardner’s bail hearing on Thursday that the alleged stolen vehicle was tracked doing 180km/h during a period they believe Mr Gardner and his co-accused had possession of the car.
They also claimed Mr Gardner had driven the stolen vehicle directly at two police vehicles, attempting to ram them, requiring police to use evasive actions to avoid being hit.
The car was found abandoned and rammed into a tree in Nangiloc. Police said fingerprint evidence linked Mr Gardner to the vehicle.
Despite impassioned pleas from Mr Gardner’s defence, Magistrate Patrick Southey denied Mr Gardner’s bail application, citing his failure to appear after being bailed on a previous matter as a sticking point.
Mr Gardner is next set to appear before Mildura Magistrates Court on June 11.
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